Elim Bible Institute (Altona, Manitoba)

Identity area

Type of entity

Corporate body

Authorized form of name

Elim Bible Institute (Altona, Manitoba)

Parallel form(s) of name

Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules

Other form(s) of name

Identifiers for corporate bodies

Description area

Dates of existence

1929-1988

History

Elim Bible Institute was founded in 1929 by the Bergthaler and Blumenorter Mennonite Churches of southern Manitoba. It first opened in Gretna, Manitoba in the Mennonite Collegiate Institute with Johann Enns acting as instructor for 20 students. The vision of this new institution was to provide a place for systematic Bible study, training for local church work, as well as preparation for wider missionary work and evangelism. The school was closed in 1931 due to various difficulties, including the economic conditions of the times. In 1936 P.P. Tscheffer of Freeman, South Dakota reopened the school.

The institution experienced a year of change in 1940 as it was moved north a few miles from Gretna to Altona, Manitoba. At the same time Abram A. Teichroeb assumed direction of the school, a position he held until 1963. Under his leadership, enrollment reached its all-time peak in the early 1950's at 109 students. In 1951 a society of supporting churches was formed and continued until 1974.

In 1964, George Neufeld began a 10 year stint as principal of Elim. During this decade the school experienced significant change. Two-year diploma courses were developed with majors in Christian education and church music. As a result of a strengthened emphasis on Anabaptist-Mennonite theology, programs for church camping, Christian service and adult education were implemented. In 1972 Elim Bible Institute changed its named to Elim Christian Education Centre, a reflection of the new goals for the facility. Unfortunately, the quick and multiple changes to the school's program and direction led to controversy. Enrollment dropped to 18 in 1974, forcing the school to close for the year.

Once again, known as Elim Bible Institute, the school reopened its doors in 1975 under the leadership of Victor Kliewer. No longer under the support of the church society, Elim now existed under the Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba (CMM). Over the next twelve years, the office of principal was held by several people, including Vic Kliewer, Phil Bender, Dan Zehr, and interim principal, Ike Froese. In 1983 a new campus was opened in the western part of Altona, yet enrollment declined in spite of the new facilities. During the summer of 1986 CMM decided to discontinue the long-standing residence program. For the next two years a variety of on-campus short courses, off-campus courses and workshops were offered. However, the program could not be sustained and Elim officially closed its doors on May 1, 1988.

Places

Altona (Manitoba)

Legal status

Functions, occupations and activities

Mandates/sources of authority

Internal structures/genealogy

General context

Relationships area

Access points area

Subject access points

Place access points

Occupations

Control area

Authority record identifier

CA-MHA-2020

Institution identifier

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation, revision and deletion

Language(s)

Script(s)

Sources

Klippenstein, Lawrence. Elim Bible Institute (Altona, Manitoba, Canada). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. January 2001. Web. 30 Apr 2020.

Maintenance notes

  • Clipboard

  • Export

  • EAC

Related subjects

Related places